NEWS

Unaware MLA reports felling of trees in Ridge

Source: The Asian Age, Date: October , 2014

Congress MLA Prahlad Singh Sawhney, who represents Chandni
Chowk seat, has complained to chief secretary D.M. Spolia about felling of
“Vilayati Kikar (known as Babool)” in the Kamla Nehru Ridge that falls in Delhi
University’s North campus area. In his letter, Mr Sawhney said that several
residents of his constituency had complained that the greenery of the Ridge was
being destroyed. The Congress MLA said that felling of trees was prohibited
under the provisions of the Forest Act. However, Delhi Development Authority
officials said that they were in the process of trimming the branches of
Vilayati Kikar (Prosopis Juliflora) to allow sunlight reach the forest so that
the newly-planted Aravali species can grow better. The DDA and the forest
department, under the supervision of Delhi University professor C.R. Babu, have
started planting native Aravali species in the Ridge. The authorities have
started pruning canopies of Vilayati Kikar as it is a highly invasive alien
species from Mexico that has encroached upon the Ridge and has resulted in the
elimination of about 450 native species.